It is always a challenge facing musicians as they grow older and begin to take on the status of a heritage act: How to stay musically relevant while still retaining credibility? Mary J Blige, who turned 40 this year, does not have to convince anyone of her talents and her legacy is assured but, after a career spanning 20 years, her later albums have often been a case of diminishing returns and have been serviceable at best. It is a welcome relief then that My Life II… is a wonderfully assured collection of classy RnB pop that can justifiably rank amongst her best work.My Life II…The Journey Continues (Act 1) is touted as a sequel to 1994’s My Life album and, indeed, the album begins with an opening skit featuring Blige telephoning My Life producer P Diddy and asking him for his permission to record a sequel. My Life II…
